He's optimistic about the team's outlook heading into the salary-cap era, and he's encouraged about new NHL rules designed to create more space for skilled players.
The club announced on Tuesday that Yzerman has signed a one-year contract. The news was not unexpected, but the 40-year-old Yzerman said it was not an easy decision.
``I really debated back and forth what I should do (return or retire),'' Yzerman said. ``A lot of mornings I woke up deciding to go one way, and a lot of mornings I woke up thinking of doing the opposite.''
In the end, he wanted to make sure he was doing what's best for the team.
``You see they had to buy out a few players, so I didn't want to put the team in an uncomfortable position with the salary cap,'' Yzerman said. ``There's a lot of issues in putting together a team. I wanted to make sure the organization was comfortable in wanting me to return.''
Money was never an issue. Yzerman will earn a base salary of $1.5 million, which could climb as high as $2 million with incentives.
Yzerman is not prepared to declare this will be his final season.
``I'll see how it goes,'' he said. ``I'll play this year, hopefully it goes well, and then I'll make a decision.''
Yzerman is fully recovered from injuries sustained during the 2004 playoffs, when he was hit in the face with the puck on a rebound.
``I continue to train, my conditioning is good,'' Yzerman said. ``I'm anxious to get back on the ice and see how I feel.''He'll participate in Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp near Vancouver from Aug. 17-20. When the Wings open training camp in Traverse City on Sept. 13, Yzerman will be playing right wing, as he often has in recent years. He might be Darren McCarty's replacement on the line with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, at least initially.
Regarding the long layoff that resulted from the cancellation of the 2004-05
season, Yzerman said, ``I don't think it has an affect on me, positively or
negatively. I stayed in shape, didn't gain weight.''
Yzerman is second in club history in career goals (678), points (1,721) and
games played (1,453) behind Gordie Howe, and is first in assists (1,043).
``I'm very pleased to have Steve re-sign for another season with the Red Wings,'' general manager Ken Holland said. ``I'm confident that he has a lot of great hockey left to play.''
Yzerman is the 11th player the Wings have under contract. They need to sign 10 or 11 more, but Yzerman likes what he sees so far.
``I look at our lineup, I think it's a nucleus of a solid team,'' Yzerman said. ``I look for it to be a competitive team.''